Area school district representatives met at the R. Larry George Training Center Annex of the Jefferson County Educational Service Center to begin planning for the 2024 Herald-Star Jefferson-Harrison County Regional Spelling Bee. Among those on hand were, from left, front, Amber Fomenko, JSESC; Susie Nolan, Buckeye Local School District; Misty Mills, Harrison Hills City School District; and Ross Gallabrese, executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times; back, Ron Sismondo, bee coordinator for the JCESC; Maryann Hoobler, Edison Local School District; Justin Wiley, Toronto City School District; Patty Ferrell, JCESC; Madison Taylor, Harrison Hills; and Joe Lovell, special events coordinator for Ogden Newspapers. The bee is scheduled to be held at 11 a.m. March 9 at Buckeye North Elementary School. The winner of that bee will travel to National Harbor, Md., the week of May 26 to compete in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee. (Photo by Julie Stenger)